Chris Heimerdinger
Encyclopedia
Chris Heimerdinger is an American author
and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who has written sixteen novels for young people and adults, the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series
, most of which center on religious themes familiar to Latter-day Saints.
. His parents divorced when he was four years old and his mother remarried. Heimerdinger has one older brother and two younger sisters.
Heimerdinger excelled in Wyoming High School competitions for three years in the categories of Humor, Oratory, and Drama. He began to write books at the age of 7, and continued through high school. He also began making super-8 films beginning in junior high, and showed these films to the scholarship committee of Brigham Young University
in 1981, earning a full scholarship in 'Theatre and Cinematic Arts' after receiving a Sundance Institute
'Most Promising Filmmaker' award for his film Night Meeting.
Heimerdinger read the Book of Mormon
at age 18, during his first semester at college, and was converted
to the Mormon faith on Oct. 10, 1981.
. His first published work was Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites (1989), based on events in the Book of Mormon. Thus far eleven
books have followed in the series, the first of which features three children who discover a secret cave capable of transporting its visitors back in time. The following books continue with the original characters as they go to college, get married, and have kids. The characters also have to deal with death, parenting troubles and time travel. The first books in the series were intended to be a fictional account of the Book of Mormon
, while later ones explore other historical eras, including Ancient Rome
, Israel
during the Roman destruction in A.D. 73, and the time period of the Tower of Babel
. The last four novels in this series include research notes at the end of each chapter.
In 2005, Heimerdinger began production of Passage to Zarahemla
. Originally written in 1999 as a screenplay entitled "Summer of the Nephite" it was published as a novel, Passage to Zarahemla
in 2003. The film was released to cinemas in October 2007 and as of 2011 ranks in the top 100 for both Christian and Fantasy Live-Action films. It was released on DVD in June 2008. In August 2011, a book sequel to Passage to Zarahemla, entitled Escape From Zarahemla was announced for October release by Covenant Communications, Inc.
In 2008 Heimerdinger was among the top 10 list of LDS authors as chosen by Mormon Times readers.
to help collect tennis shoes for children 5 to 12 years old.
In 2007 Heimerdinger again joined with Hearts and Hands for Humanity to collect tennis shoes. This time it was in honor of a fallen soldier, Nathan Barnes, of American Fork, Utah. The goal this time was to collect and send thousands of tennis shoes to Iraq.
Other books
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who has written sixteen novels for young people and adults, the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series
Tennis Shoes Adventure Series
The Tennis Shoes Adventure Series is a series of LDS fiction novels written by Chris Heimerdinger and most widely read by young adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.There are eleven books in the series so far:...
, most of which center on religious themes familiar to Latter-day Saints.
Early life
Heimerdinger's father was a professor in theatre at Indiana UniversityIndiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. His parents divorced when he was four years old and his mother remarried. Heimerdinger has one older brother and two younger sisters.
Heimerdinger excelled in Wyoming High School competitions for three years in the categories of Humor, Oratory, and Drama. He began to write books at the age of 7, and continued through high school. He also began making super-8 films beginning in junior high, and showed these films to the scholarship committee of Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in 1981, earning a full scholarship in 'Theatre and Cinematic Arts' after receiving a Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981 that actively advances the work of filmmakers and storytellers worldwide...
'Most Promising Filmmaker' award for his film Night Meeting.
Heimerdinger read the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
at age 18, during his first semester at college, and was converted
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
to the Mormon faith on Oct. 10, 1981.
Books and films
Heimerdinger is the author of the Tennis Shoes Adventure SeriesTennis Shoes Adventure Series
The Tennis Shoes Adventure Series is a series of LDS fiction novels written by Chris Heimerdinger and most widely read by young adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.There are eleven books in the series so far:...
. His first published work was Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites (1989), based on events in the Book of Mormon. Thus far eleven
books have followed in the series, the first of which features three children who discover a secret cave capable of transporting its visitors back in time. The following books continue with the original characters as they go to college, get married, and have kids. The characters also have to deal with death, parenting troubles and time travel. The first books in the series were intended to be a fictional account of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, while later ones explore other historical eras, including Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
during the Roman destruction in A.D. 73, and the time period of the Tower of Babel
Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel , according to the Book of Genesis, was an enormous tower built in the plain of Shinar .According to the biblical account, a united humanity of the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating from the east, came to the land of Shinar, where...
. The last four novels in this series include research notes at the end of each chapter.
In 2005, Heimerdinger began production of Passage to Zarahemla
Passage to Zarahemla
Passage to Zarahemla is an adventure film directed and written by Chris Heimerdinger. It tells the story of a young pair of siblings seeking to find a new life following the abrupt death of their mother. Their exploits lead them to a relative's home in Utah and eventually a thrilling...
. Originally written in 1999 as a screenplay entitled "Summer of the Nephite" it was published as a novel, Passage to Zarahemla
Passage to Zarahemla
Passage to Zarahemla is an adventure film directed and written by Chris Heimerdinger. It tells the story of a young pair of siblings seeking to find a new life following the abrupt death of their mother. Their exploits lead them to a relative's home in Utah and eventually a thrilling...
in 2003. The film was released to cinemas in October 2007 and as of 2011 ranks in the top 100 for both Christian and Fantasy Live-Action films. It was released on DVD in June 2008. In August 2011, a book sequel to Passage to Zarahemla, entitled Escape From Zarahemla was announced for October release by Covenant Communications, Inc.
In 2008 Heimerdinger was among the top 10 list of LDS authors as chosen by Mormon Times readers.
Public service
Heimerdinger utilizes the title of his Tennis Shoes Adventure Series in helping around the world. In August 2005 Heimerdinger joined with Hearts and Hands for Humanity in American Fork, UtahAmerican Fork, Utah
American Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range, north of Utah Lake. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 26,263 at the 2010 census, nearly a 20% growth since the 2000 census...
to help collect tennis shoes for children 5 to 12 years old.
In 2007 Heimerdinger again joined with Hearts and Hands for Humanity to collect tennis shoes. This time it was in honor of a fallen soldier, Nathan Barnes, of American Fork, Utah. The goal this time was to collect and send thousands of tennis shoes to Iraq.
Novels
Tennis Shoes Adventure SeriesTennis Shoes Adventure Series
The Tennis Shoes Adventure Series is a series of LDS fiction novels written by Chris Heimerdinger and most widely read by young adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.There are eleven books in the series so far:...
- Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, 1989 (republished 1999), Covenant Communications, ISBN 1577344677
- Gadiantons and the Silver Sword, 1990, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1555033903
- Tennis Shoes and the Feathered Serpent, part one, 1995, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1577344871
- Tennis Shoes and the Feathered Serpent, part two, 1996, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1577344898
- The Sacred Quest (formerly Tennis Shoes and the Seven Churches), 1997, Covenant Communications, ISBN 157734491X
- The Lost Scrolls, 1998, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1577344189
- The Golden Crown, 1999, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1577344987
- Warriors of Cumorah, 2001, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1577349229
- Tower of Thunder, 2003, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1591561779
- Kingdoms and Conquerors, 2005, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1591567408
- Sorcerers and Seers, 2010, Covenant Communications, ISBN 160861087X
Other books
- Eddie Fantastic, 1992, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1555034039
- Daniel and Nephi, 1993, Covenant Communications, ISBN 1555035663
- Ben Franklin and the Chamber of Time, 1995, Deseret Book Company, ISBN 0875798780
- A Light in the Storm, 2000, Covenant Communications, ISBN 157734684X
- Passage to Zarahemla, 2003, Heimerdinger Entertainment and Covenant Communications, ISBN 0970834306
- A Return to Christmas, 1996, multiple publishers, ISBN 0804118264
- The Absurd Adventures of Elders Kurds and Way, (also Kurds and Way, A Missionary Epic), 1987, Heimerbooks
- Escape From Zarahemla (scheduled for release October, 2011, Covenant Communications)
Music CDs
- Whispered Visions—Original Songs From the Motion Picture Passage to ZarahemlaPassage to ZarahemlaPassage to Zarahemla is an adventure film directed and written by Chris Heimerdinger. It tells the story of a young pair of siblings seeking to find a new life following the abrupt death of their mother. Their exploits lead them to a relative's home in Utah and eventually a thrilling...
Films
- The Wolves (1987): Drama about a grade-school boy's club. Produced, written, and directed by Chris while a student at Brigham Young University. Distributed by Phoenix Films, BFA.
- Lehi's Land of First Inheritance (2003): Documentary on Book of Mormon geography produced by Newlight Productions, Written by Chris Heimerdinger and Joseph Allen. Directed by Chris Heimerdinger (Dist. by Newlight Prod. and Sounds of Zion, Inc.) ASIN: B000N3WAFM
- Passage to ZarahemlaPassage to ZarahemlaPassage to Zarahemla is an adventure film directed and written by Chris Heimerdinger. It tells the story of a young pair of siblings seeking to find a new life following the abrupt death of their mother. Their exploits lead them to a relative's home in Utah and eventually a thrilling...
(2007), a feature-length action/adventure/fantasy movie Written and Directed by Heimerdinger. Released to theaters October 15, 2007.
External links
- Book of Mormon Adventures: Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites: About the Author
- Brian Mickelsen, "Travellers' Inside Scoop: Sacred Sites - Land of Bountiful: Book of Mormon Symposium at Sea", Meridian Magazine, 2001, accessed 2008-05-12
- Richard H. CracroftRichard H. CracroftRichard H. Cracroft is an emeritus professor of English at Brigham Young University . He held the title of Nan Osmond Grass Professor in English at that university. Cracroft has been both head of BYU's English department and dean of the College of Humanities...
, "Through a Glass, Brightly: Happenings in Book of Mormon Fiction: Review of Daniel and Nephi; Samuel, Moroni's Young Warrior by Chris Heimerdinger & Clair Poulson", FARMS Review of Books, vol. 6, no. 2 (1994) pp. 118–121